Episode 273 - REWIND: The Art of Protection and Lessons from a CIA Special Agent with Mike Trott

In this Special Rewind Episode, host Mark Ledlow revisits an impactful conversation with Mike Trott, a former Air Force veteran and CIA Special Agent, whose career has been defined by protecting some of the world’s most high-profile individuals. Mike shares the journey of writing his seminal book, The Protected, and the immense pressure of securing an endorsement from former CIA Director George Tenet. They delve into the "layers of security" model, the dangers of social media misinformation, and the 2020 Beirut port explosion as a critical case study in risk management and incompetence. Mike also discusses his current role as VP of Global Safety and Security at Discovery Land, highlighting how the security industry has pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation covers the vital importance of utilizing operational downtime for training and preparing for the massive impending resurgence of global corporate travel.

This Special Rewind Episode offers timeless, practical lessons for security professionals, executives, and principals seeking to strengthen decision-making, preparedness, and resilience.

Learn about all this and more in this episode of The Fearless Mindset Podcast.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Mastering the craft of security requires decades of lived experience and continuous learning.
• Security programs must be holistic; removing a single layer compromises the entire foundation.
• The endorsement of a high-level principal stems from a commitment to excellence and professional pressure.
• Social media misinformation is a growing "failed experiment" that poses significant risks to global stability.
• Effective risk assessment involves evaluating "all-hazard" scenarios, including neighboring industrial threats.
• Professional EP teams must utilize downtime for rigorous training to remain sharp for future surges in travel.

QUOTES

• “I don't think you can write a book, especially about our career... and hit all the points unless you've lived through it. That’s going to take you a few decades.”
• “If you take one or two layers out... it's like removing the foundation from your building, from your house. You're gonna have issues.”
• “Social media does a lot of good, hands down... but I think we haven't seen or been able to measure how bad it does in terms of false information.”
• “As CSOs or VP of Security and Safety, we probably didn't see this coming where we'd have to step up and be more involved with helping to understand this pandemic.”
• “If EP teams are not training right now and taking advantage of this opportunity and they're just staying at home... you're probably wrong.”
• “The executives are gonna own a full launch and it's gonna ramp up pretty quick. Get ready. It's gonna be madness.”
• “Fearless isn't just your ability to handle a high stress situation. I think fearless also applies into your ability to make good decisions.”

Get to know more about Mike Trott and his work through the links below:

• Book: www.TheProtected.us
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwtrott/

To hear more episodes of The Fearless Mindset podcast, you can go to https://the-fearless-mindset.simplecast.com/ or listen on major podcasting platforms such as Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, etc. You can also subscribe to the Fearless Mindset YouTube Channel to watch episodes on video.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.